The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), established through a United Nations–led initiative, has introduced its internationally recognised certification framework to India. For the first time, hotels in India can now access GSTC Certification locally through QualStar, India’s only QCI-recognised certification body for hotels.
GSTC was designed to ensure one global standard for sustainable tourism. A hotel certified in India, Japan, or the United States is measured against the exact same parameters, providing unmatched credibility with travellers, corporations, and governments worldwide.
Until now, Indian hotels seeking GSTC certification had to invite auditors from overseas — an expensive process that required international travel, accommodation, and related expenses. With trained, globally approved auditors now available in India through QualStar, hotels can achieve the same globally trusted certification at a fraction of the cost.
Globally, countries such as Singapore and Turkey have already made GSTC certification mandatory for hotels. In India, adoption remains voluntary, which is why only a handful of properties (mostly in South India) are certified. However, leading chains including Taj, ITC, and Oberoi are trying to align with GSTC standards, recognising their importance in corporate procurement, international marketing, and future-readiness.
With India facing a shortage of over 300,000 hotel rooms, scaling GSTC certification is set to:
UCSL–QualStar Partnership Delivers Certification in India
This milestone has been enabled by a strategic partnership between United Certification Systems Limited (UCSL), one of the first GSTC-accredited certification bodies, and QualStar. As UCSL’s authorised partner, QualStar will conduct GSTC certification audits across India, with full oversight from UCSL to ensure international integrity and rigour.
Voices from the Partnership
“Through our partnership with QualStar, we can ensure that GSTC Certification remains rigorous, impartial, and internationally credible, while also becoming more accessible and relevant to the Indian market”, said Olga Shuvalova, CEO of UCSL.
Subha Bhaskar, COO of QualStar, added, “We are proud to collaborate with UCSL as their authorised partner in India. This allows us to combine UCSL’s global credibility with our local expertise, ensuring sustainability audits that are both internationally recognised and deeply relevant to Indian hotels.”
Driving India’s Leadership in Sustainable Tourism
India’s hospitality industry is among the fastest-growing in the world, but it faces rising demands from travellers, corporations, and regulators for verified sustainability. GSTC certification offers: